By UNDP Climate Promise
Across the world, a vibrant movement of young people is taking on a formidable challenge: tackling climate change and building a resilient future.
The rise of this youth-led movement has played a defining role in accelerating climate action in recent years. With creativity, drive and determination, young people have been advocating for change and implementing it, taking on roles as frontline responders, climate innovators, advocates and peacebuilders. They have pushed for representation at the negotiating table, claiming their voice in defining the future of climate action. And they have fought to bring climate justice to the forefront, side by side with Indigenous Peoples and other vulnerable communities.
Despite these impressive efforts, young people don’t always get the support they need to be able to get involved in climate action. They need more opportunities to build up their green skills, participate in negotiations and policymaking and become the leaders the world needs at this crucial time.
In partnership with the Government of Belgium, UNDP is supporting young climate leaders in Burundi, Guinea, Kenya, Morocco, Panama and Zimbabwe to meaningfully engage in the planning and implementation of national climate plans, or Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and unlock a future where sustainability and inclusivity are central.
Through this work, UNDP is helping young people actively shape how their countries achieve and monitor their climate commitments, while ensuring they have opportunities to build practical skills, drive innovative solutions and unlock their leadership potential.
Growing a new generation of climate leaders in Burundi
In Burundi, a new generation of young climate leaders is taking root. Together with the Ministry of Environment and civil society partners, UNDP helped establish 56 youth climate ambassador clubs in Bujumbura, the country’s largest city.
These clubs allow students to learn about climate and environmental issues such as plastic pollution, water management and forest conservation through guidance tools and practical materials. Eighteen of the clubs were selected for further training and are now spreading climate awareness across schools, universities and neighborhoods, strengthening grassroots environmental action.
At the same time, a local youth radio station is making climate education a lively community effort through awareness campaigns as well as trivia contests that have engaged over 1,200 participants to test their knowledge about climate change.
Mobilizing youth-led organizations in Guinea
In Guinea, youth-led organizations are mobilizing for national climate action. UNDP’s support enabled a comprehensive mapping of 48 youth-led organizations, which came together to establish a youth community of practice on NDC implementation. This community of practice was launched at the end of the National Climate Camp in Kindia in 2024, where 256 young people participated in hands-on trainings on project planning, environmental leadership and putting NDCs into action.
An action plan was then created in collaboration with the government, youth-led organizations, international partners and local stakeholders. This plan focuses on climate resilience, adaptation, mitigation and strengthening legal and institutional frameworks, in alignment with the Paris Agreement.
To keep the momentum going, a mentorship platform is currently being finalized with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to facilitate exchanges between young people and national experts in support of climate initiatives in the country.
Accessing climate finance in Kenya and Zimbabwe
In Kenya, young innovators are learning new ways to access climate finance. Through a series of workshops in 2024 organized by UNDP in collaboration with UNICEF and the Ministry of Environment, Climate Change and Forestry, young people from 26 counties acquired essential skills related to project development, climate finance and risk management. These new skills are meant to help them design climate projects that are not only environmentally sound but also financially viable and aligned with Kenya’s NDC.
To maximize reach and impact, a train-the-trainer model was employed, grouping the young people into five cohorts that could learn from each other. This approach ensured local ownership, fostered peer-to-peer learning and created a ripple effect of knowledge transfer.
Under this initiative, UNDP also launched a call for youth-led climate solutions. Sixteen proposals were shortlisted and pitched before a panel of experts, receiving seed funding to test their ideas.
Read more: How young people are building skills for climate action and a resilient world
Source: UNDP Climate Promise
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